Inside the DNA of an entrepreneur

Do you have the DNA of an entrepreneur? If not; you can develop them.

Science is constantly looking for a DNA mapping that could fit perfect for an entrepreneur DNA. The science of ‘epigenetics’(study of DNA) throws light on the possibility of forming DNA mapping through a person’s way of thinking, altered beliefs (neuro-wired assumptions about what something means with absolute certainty) change of habits and behavior.

Our DNA is not fixed. It gets altered several times during a life time. This is good news. You can develop an entrepreneur DNA if you don’t have one.

Scientists have identified over 300 mapping of human DNA. Our DNA mapping is constantly changing. Neuro-psychology throws light on the possibility of change in chromosome mapping due to any Significant Emotional Events (SEE).

Entrepreneur’s who through emotional events, like getting fired from a job gets instigated to start own businesses enterprises (like in the case of Thomas J Watson of IBM).

The fact is that an entrepreneur DNA can be developed by any one. The dominant feature of an entrepreneur DNA is competitiveness along with several attributing factors.

So, how do you develop one? It is simple!

You need to follow a certain way of thinking, beliefs, habits and behaviors that will amount to a complete new mapping of your entrepreneurial DNA.

The following are the some of the key factors of an entrepreneur DNA. (There are many more attributes to it)

1. Entrepreneurs look for opportunity.

Do you seek opportunity or security in life?

Entrepreneurs always look for opportunity while others seek security. Not all the opportunities are obvious. There are hidden opportunities and often they are wrapped with problems. Entrepreneurs spot problems as opportunities. Many people will shy away from problems and run away from challenges while entrepreneurs love to embrace challenges. Challenges drive their performance. They seek solutions. Being a solution provider is one of the biggest entrepreneurial opportunities today. This is the conceptual age and opportunities lie in all areas where you can provide a craft full solution.

Entrepreneurs constantly build value on providing solutions. They know that the best opportunities always lie when you can solve a problem. They leverage problems by tackling them. There is a different way of thinking to achieve this task.

Successful Entrepreneurs ask different questions when they are encountered with a problem. First of all they treat all problems as challenges. They ask ‘how can I turn around this problem into a solution’ while many ask questions like ‘why this problem exist.’ They delve more on ‘how’ they can tackle a problem rather than getting quizzical about all the ‘why-s’ of a problem. To solve a problem they seek expert help. They hire people better than who they are to achieve the tasks they envision. They pool in the best talent available to bring in all the pieces of puzzles together. Before they begin this process, they are absolutely sure that they can, but they may not have the foggiest idea ‘how’ they can. They have the absolute certainty of optimism and strong expectation that everything will fall into places on their favor even though they experience the tremors of uncertainty.

When entrepreneurs look for growth opportunity, employees on the other hand look for job security. Employees can’t shoulder high levels of risks that come with different types of business problems. Employees want to lead a comfortable life. Challenges make them withdraw to their comfort zones.

2. Entrepreneurs are excited about uncertainties, market changes and the notion of change itself.

Most of the people’s primary need is the need for certainty while entrepreneurs are triggered by the idea of uncertainty. They can make great decisions in the face of uncertainty or even during a time of adversity. They have the utmost belief that they can reach their goals no matter whatever it takes. They are not interested in their business but they are committed to their business. They have the conviction to overcome any amount of challenges. This belief helps them to function in the times of uncertainty while majority can’t function rationally during economic transitions and changes. They are unreasonable in their thinking. Their beliefs are so strong; their actions are focused because their eyes are always on the prize. They challenge the statusqo and the reality itself to suit to any evolving situations. They take all the measures possible to achieve their goals. They are self disciplined and they delay gratification. Delaying gratification gives them the patience and perseverance to achieve almost anything.

Stanford University conducted a research project where they gave 4 (four) year old children marsh mellows and told them that if they waited 10 minutes before eating them, they could have a second one. Some children ate the marsh mellows, some children waited, and some children “pseudo ate” their marsh mellows by licking them. Thirty years, later, they followed up this study to evaluate how these children performed in life. Those children that waited the 10 minutes statistically had happier marriages, higher paying jobs, had progressed further professionally, and also had the highest percentages of entrepreneurial activities.

This opens up the idea that entrepreneurs typically are not looking for the short-term financial gratification or rewards of material possessions, but rather look forward with a long term view of building businesses and establishing profit, growth, and diversification.

Self discipline gives them the edge to function reliably during crisis and turbulent times. They become unreasonable with their expectations. Here, being unreasonable means to challenge mediocre standards of realistic thinking. This gives them the edge over being an outstanding achiever, because they believe in magic more than the logic. It takes a great amount of faith to believe in the magic of life, because destiny has a design in correspondence to what you deeply believe to be certain.

On the other hand employees have the strong need for certainty. They need to be assured of any outcome. They can’t live on the edge. They prefer to stick to their comfort zone. They want to achieve anything they are comfortable with. They think very realistic. They have rationally limited imagination.

3. An entrepreneur has a strong discomfort to work under other people

When you recognize that you are competitive and you can perform better than other people, you form a belief of total independence and start living life on your terms. People who choose to be entrepreneurs are not psychologically comfortable to work for someone else. If a person with an entrepreneur DNA works for some one, they will be working to gain experience and expertise. When they know that they are ready to start on their own; they will act on their idea. When they reach a level of discomfort they will get out of the jobs and pursue their true passion.

People with an Employee DNA switch jobs when they are not comfortable with their job. They know that there is always another person or company they can work for.

4. Entrepreneurs have a strong desire and commitment to over contribute

They have a strong need to achieve and at times to over achieve by demanding more from one self. Entrepreneurs have high standard and they demand more from themselves. They are willing to work more than 8 hours. They are comfortable to do any job within their organization. They are proactive and responsible. They are result oriented and not action oriented people.

Employees achieve what they are asked to achieve. They are committed to work 8 hours a day. They are comfortable with only designated jobs. They are activity oriented (jobs they do) and not really outcome oriented.

5. Entrepreneurs build their future on anything.

Entrepreneurs have unique perspective. They view things differently. They look at every potential person, situation, and event as endless possibilities. They are highly imaginative and by applying knowledge with inspiration, they get creative on their skills to solve any problem. They know the power of an idea. No idea or suggestion goes unnoticed. They take action on an idea. They are constantly building on something. They are always on the move, always expanding and growing. They read and research on new information, attend seminars and learn new skills.

The good news is that entrepreneurial intelligence can be developed by anyone. If you can come up with several business ideas for new start ups or if you can provide solutions and suggestions to improve other businesses, you can develop entrepreneurial intelligence. It is not the lack of idea that is stopping us from becoming an entrepreneur; it is the excuse of not taking action on that idea.

Employees on the other hand work for an entrepreneur’s idea. They do not take action on their ideas. If they do, they will become entrepreneurs. Right!